Rotary number printer with end-wise withdrawal for accessibility

ABSTRACT

Number-printing apparatus arranged in tandem to off-set lithographic printing apparatus is disclosed. The number-printing apparatus is capable of end-wise withdrawal from the printing zone, practically inaccessible to the press operator, for the convenient, rapid resetting of the numbering mechanism. The number-printing apparatus may be singly employed or such may be employed in a paired set so that, when one such apparatus is in the printing zone and operating to print numbers the other is disposed outside of the machine and readily available for resetting by the press operator.

United States Patent [19] Heath ROTARY NUMBER PRINTER WITH END-WISE WITHDRAWAL FOR ACCESSIBILITY Howard W. Heath, Seattle, Wash.

Assignee: Heath Printers Inc., Seattle, Wash.

Filed: May 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 255,228

lnventor:

U.S.Cl. ..101/76, lO1/142, 101/216 Int. Cl. ..B4lk 3/14 Field of Search lOl/76, 77, 136, lOl/l37,l4l, 142, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 375, 212, 247

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1946 .lirousek ..l0l/l77 [1 11 3,728,960 [45] Apr. 24, 1973 Janke ..l0l/76 Jahn ..101/77 Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Att0rneyFord E. Smith [57] ABSTRACT Number-printing apparatus arranged in tandem to offset lithographic printing apparatus is disclosed. The number-printing apparatus is capable of end-wise withdrawal from the printing zone, practically inaccessible to the press operator, for the convenient,

rapid resetting of the numbering mechanism. The number-printing apparatus may be singly employed or such may be employed in a paired set so that, when one such apparatus is in the printing zone and operating to print numbers the other is disposed outside of the machine and readily available for re-setting by the press operator.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures ROTARY NUMBER PRINTER WITH END-WISE WITHDRAWAL FOR ACCESSIBILITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

they could simultaneously, in exact register, and at the same printing speed perform a numbering operation on a sheet of paper just printed in the lithographic off-set area. A careful appraisal of such machinery available has disclosed that there is a need for number-printing apparatus that can be associated with an off-set lithographic press which would perform the numbering operation in tandem with exact register subsequent to the initial lithographic printing operation without there occurring any release of the printing stock as it passes through the machinery and, particularly, without requiring re-engagement of the printing stock between the two operations as they are being simultaneously conducted. More particularly there are available Fairchild-Davidson high-speed lithographic printing machines identified as Dualith 400, 500, 5008, 600 and 700 machines. In these machines, a thin and inexpensive photographic off-set plate is prepared. The face of the plate is coated with a water-soluble, light sensitive material. The printed or illustrated copy material is photographed to produce a negative which is placed over the unexposed coated plate and, in this assembly, exposed to a strong light. Light passing through the negative hardens the coating behind the transparent areas of the film and render it insoluble in water. This hardened coating now becomes the image base of the plate. The plate is then covered with a grease-base developing ink which clings only to the hardened image base. The unhardened coating is washed away with water. A lithographic press employing such a plate is equipped to supply both moisture and ink in the proper quantity. The surface of the plate is prepared to accept these two elements in the proper areas, that is moisture in the non-image area and inkin the image area. Such a plate or a master is thenmounted on the plate segments of a printing cylinder and usually covers one-half of the circumferential surface of the cylinder. By arranging the dampening means and inking means in close proximity to the cylinder, revolution of the cylinder exposes the plate first to the dampening unit and then to the inking unit, and then the plate is moved to -a blanket cylinder where the image is transferred to the blanket. Shortly therebehind a piece of printing stock is introduced between the blanket cylinder carrying the image and an impression segment of the main cylinder and the image is transferred from the blanket to the stock. Normally the blanket cylinder is beneath the main cylinder and the transfer is thus effected on the underside of the paper stock.

In the operation of personalizing checks, it is next desirable that the checks being printed on such paper stock be serially numbered. This operation must be performed in timed relation and in exact register so that the numbers will be accurately placed on the preprinted stock as for example once on the stub end once on the check itself. V

It is among the main objects of this invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of carrying out the numbering operation in such tandem relation to the previous printing operation while the stock is still gripped and advanced by the same means that carried it through the previous printing operation; and to provide number-printing apparatus which simple to construct and install in a manner that it may be easily and quickly withdrawn for number resetting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an off-set lithographic printing machine incorporating the printing apparatus of this invention;

F 167 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooperatively combined lithographic printing and sequentially operable numbering apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of transport apparatus for a pair of printer shafts employed in the numbering apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through portions of upright support means between which is mounted rotary inking and impression means and a rotary printer shaft carrying numbering devices;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of a printer shaft and associated numbering devices mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a seating and centering pin for the inner end of the printer shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the inner end of a printer shaft, portions being broken away to show internal detail in section;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of means for clamping the printer shaft in operating position within the apparatus;

FIG. 9 fragmentarily illustrates the keying arrangement of the slidable transport shaft; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-section on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises the feeding unit 10 that includes an elevator table 12 for a stack of paper 14 from the top of which, by feeding means (not shown), paper is delivered to a conveyor table 16 to pass into the printing unit 18 wherein a conventional off-set lithographic printing operation is performed. The paper printed in unit 18 is then conveyed to printing unit 20 where a second or subsequent printing operation is conducted. More specifically, this apparatus combination is designed and arranged for the printing of, forexample, personalized checks in which the personalizing operation is performed in unit 18 and the checks are then serially numbered in unit 20.

Referring to the schematic showing in FIG. 2, there is a conventional main cylinder 22 having a plate segment 24 and an impression segment 26 which revolve with the main cylinder in contact with the smaller, lower cylinder 28 that is normally covered with a thick, rubber surface mat, called a blanket. Ink unit 30 and dampening unit 32 are in contact with cylinder 22. The blanket drum 28 is half the circumference of cylinder 22. For each revolution of cylinder 22, the blanket drum revolves twice. On a first revolution of drum 28 the surface thereof contacts the plate segment 24 of cylinder 22. On the second revolution of blanket drum 28; it contacts or is opposite the impression segment 26' of cylinder 22.

When plate segment 24 and drum 28 are opposite each other, an off-set plate carried by the plate segment bears on the rubber blanket of drum 28 and an ink image on the off-set plate is transferred to drum 28. The plate segment then returns to the dampening unit 32 for replenishing and again passes the ink unit 30. At the same time the blanket roll 28 now carrying the transferred ink image begins its second revolution. During this second revolution of roll 28 a sheet of paper 38, advanced by conveyor means 16, arrives at and passes between the impression segment of cylinder 22 and drum roll 28. This sheet of paper is engaged just in front of cylinder 22 by a gripper 34 endlessly moved by gripper chain 36. The impression segment 26 of cylinder 22 exerts a downward pressure on the paper and the image on the blanket of drum 28 is off-set on to the bottom side of sheet 38.

To the left of cylinder 22 as shown in FIG. 2 in this preferred form of the invention, is a second cylinder 42 which has ink segment 44 and an impression segment 46. A second inking unit 48 above cylinder 42 thinly applies ink on the surface of segment 44. The sheet of paper 38 previously printed between cylinders 22 and 28 is moved in a timed manner into close relation to cylinder 42, that is, to the impression segment of cylinder 42. There a rotary printing unit, broadly designated 50, applies an impression on the same bottom or underside of sheet 38. The gripper chain 56 carrying the sheet is caused to pass around a sheave 39 thus reversing its direction of travel. Timed release of the gripper 34 permits the sheet to be deposited in a stack or pile 52 at the delivery end of the machine. The grippers move back to the feeding end of the machinery on the lower flight of gripper chain 36, engage a next succeeding sheet and the operation is repeated.

Reverting to the printing and numbering of personalized checks, as an example of a particularly desirable application of this invention, it is customary to make printing runs of 200 checks. They are all to be numbered serially and it is usually required that the numbering of the checks in any particular run he sequential to numbers used for the same customer in the previous run. For example a customer ordering a run of checks may desire that the run begin with number 201. Another customer whose order is being printed simultaneously may require that his run begin with number 801. This information is supplied to the press operator and he must manually set the numbering discs 76 of one of the member printing units 74 so that as printing commences and continues appropriate number impressions will be applied to the checks. The setting of the numbered discs 76 is usually accomplished by using a wooden pin with which the discs are rotated to set in the correct beginning number. It will be seen that it is extremely difficultfor this operation to be performed when the numbering units are substantially inaccessible as when they are disposed in printing relation relative cylinder 42. This difficulty is overcome and disposition of the number printing unit 74 in a location readily accessible to the operator is one of the main objects of this invention. This is accomplished by apparatus now to be described.

The details of the apparatus of this invention will be described in detail in connection with a printing operation in which at cylinder 22 a sheet of paper is printed with the names and addresses and other data needful to personalize a series of checks being simultaneously printed on an oversize sheet of paper. After the personalizing operation in unit 18, the checks are to be sequentially numbered. This is accomplished at cylinder 42 in unit 20. Conventional numbering apparatus of which the Atlantic-Leibinger type is widely known and used in the industry ishere shown as a typical example.

Referring to FIG. 5, rotary printer shaft 60 has collar 62 secured thereto by key 64 in keyway 66. The collar is locked in place byscrew fastening 68. Collar 62 includes a circumferential flange 70. Clamp means 72 of the numbering unit, designated generally as 74, engage flange 70. Unit 74 comprises a plurality of printing discs 76 having the numerals 0 through 9 on their circumferences. Internal of each of the units 74 is indexing mechanism actuated upon each revolution of the numbering units as shaft 60 is rotated. Arm 78 of unit 74 carries an outstanding roller 80. Adjacent the path of travel of the numbering units 74 and their rollers 80 are fingers 82 on a rock-shaft 84. Each time that a roller 80 contacts a finger 82 arms 78 are actuated and an indexing operation is performed so that the number series carried by discs 76 is changed by one digit. It will be understood that as the rotary printer unit 50 is caused to revolve, the raised number printing elements on disc 76 are inked on inking segment 44 of cylinder 42. Then a sheet of paper is interposed between the impression segment 46 of cylinder 42 and the inked number-printer units 74 and numbers are impressed on the underside of the sheet 38 of paper.

The number-printing unit 20 comprises a base frame 21 having an opposed pair of upright support members and 92 as can best be seen in FIG. 4. Cylinder 42 is mounted to rotate between members 90 and 92. The printer shaft 60 in such an arrangement as described is located in a substantially inaccessible position adjacent the inking and impression means of cylinder 42, generally not at all convenient to the operator. Support 92, at the inner end of the shaft 60, has a stub-shaft 94 1 journalled therein. Gear 96 is attached to the outer end of shaft 94. Inside the support plate 92 is sprocket 98 on shaft 94. Driving force is applied to rotate to sprocket 98 by means of a sprocket chain (not shown). lnstanding from sprocket 98 is tapered pin 100 at the base of which is lug 102. At the inner end of shaft 60 is socket 61 tapered to fit pin 100. Notch 104 at the mouth of socket 61 engages lug 102. Shaft 60 fitted to pin 100 and the engagement of lug 102 by notch 104 comprises telescopic coupling means between the inner end of shaft 60 and the sprocket or drive member 98.

it will be understood that one of the main objectives of this invention is to provide apparatus whereby shaft 60 may be easily disengaged and uncoupled from the drive member 98 to be withdrawn longitudinal of its axis to a position outside of plate 90 and readily accessible to the operator. Plate support 90 has enlarged opening 106, of a size that will permit shaft 60 and the number-printing units 74 on collars 62 to pass therethrough as they are transported outward of the machine. I

To accomplish such transport of shaft 60 outward, there is provided elongated transport bar slidably mounted in a pair of aligned bushings 112 in the upright supports 90, 92. Bar 110 is of such length as to permit the withdrawal of the printer shaft through opening 106 to a position of ready access to the number-printing means 74. Link means 113, normally disposed closely adjacent the outer surface of upright support 90, join common ends of transport bar 110 and shaft 60. Thus, when bar 110 is drawn outward to separate link means 114 from close proximity to upright support 90 it serves to transport the shaft 60 and the number-printing apparatus carried thereby outward through opening 106. Keyway 111 in shaft 110 and key 114 mounted on support 92 insures that as bar 110 is moved outward it cannot rotate. This arrangement requires that the number-printing units 74 be transported in a straight line and out of contact with any surrounding structure. See FIGS. 9 and where details of transport bar 110 disclose that the rear end thereof at 116 is of reduced diameter and carries knob 118 that prevents unintentional withdrawal of bar 110.

from the bushing 112 of support 92.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be observed that link means 113 comprises a rigid arm non-rotatably secured to the near end of bar 110. In the preferred form of apparatus embodying this invention, a second opposite link means or arm 123 extends rigidly from bar 110 in opposition to arm 113 and that its outer end carries a second printer shaft 60. The near ends of shaft 60 are rotatably mounted in journals 124 which are attached by screws 126 to the links 113, 123. By this arrangement, it is possible for an operator to withdraw one shaft 60 and its printing units 74 from normal printing relation with cylinder 42, then to rotate bar 110 when key 114 is disengaged from keyway 111. This permits reversal of the printing shafts and the immediate introduction of the previously displaced shaft 60 into printing relation with cylinder 42. At the same time, the now displaced shaft 60 is conveniently disposed outside the machine and readily accessible to the operator.

During the short run printing of 200 checks, the operator sets the number series into the units 74 on the inoperable but conveniently located shaft 60 in preparation for his next run of checks for a different group of customers. As soon as the then ongoing run of 200 checks has been completed, he merely shuts down his printing operation, withdraws the then operating shaft 60 and its number-printing units, reverses the position of the two shafts 60, reintroduces the newly number-set shaft 60 into the printing position, and immediately restarts the number-printing operation.

Since the near end of a shaft 60 when in the printing position is journalled in and borne by one of the link arms 113 or 123 and the arm is more or less cantilevered into space, it has been found desirable to stabilize the ends of such link arms. This is accomplished by providing each such arm with a dowel pin 130 as may best be seen in FIG. 4. Socket 132 in frame member 90 adjacent opening 106 receives pin 130 to fixedly locate the end of the linking arm 113 or 123. To further rigidify or clamp the printer arm 60 accurately in position, the clamp means of FIG. 8 have been provided. This comprises a base block 136 secured to plate 90 by acrews 138 and a toggle clamp apparatus 140 actuated by handle 142 and including the bifurcated arm 144 which carries spring press pressure pads 146. The bifurcated arm 144 straddles the knob 125 of the journalled shaft 60 and pads 146 bear against an arm 113 or 123 to apply longitudinal pressure on shaft 60 in addition to insuring that the pin 130 is firmly seated in its socket 132 this also incurs tight engagement between the shaft 60, its socket 61, notch 104, and pin 100, and lug 102 respectively, on the inner end of said printers shaft. This positioning means insures that the numbering unit 74 carried on the shaft 60 return to their very desirable .closed positioning relative to the inking and impression surfaces of cylinder 42.

A spring pressed wedge 150 is slidably mounted in block 136 (see FIG. 8). When the toggle mechanism of the clamp means is activated, a lug 1S2 carried by one of the movable parts of the clamp means swings into contact with head 151 of the wedging pin 150 to apply pressure thereto. This forces the wedge 150 into the space between arms 113 and plate in the region of opening 106 and serves to initiate withdrawal of dowel 130 from socket 132 and the inner end of shaft 60 from its engagement with pin and lug 102.

It will be recognized that there has been disclosed here a preferred form of the invention. It is likely that changes and alterations in the specific structure will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art. It is therefore intended that this patent appropriately construed cover all such equivalent means as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Printing apparatus, comprising:

an opposed pair of upright supports;

rotary inking and impression means mounted between said supports;

a printer shaft located substantially inaccessiblyadjacent said inking and impression means, said shaft carrying number printing means to travel in a circular path closely tangential with the inking and impression means;

a first of said upright supports having an opening through which one end of said printer shaft extends, said opening being of a size to permit said shaft and the number printing means to be transported outward therethrough;

an elongated transport bar slidably mounted in said upright supports parallel to said printer shaft;

link means adjacent said first upright support joining common ends of said transport bar and said printer shaft; said printer shaft being rotarily mounted at its outer end to said link means;

said transport bar being of such length as to permit the withdrawal of said printer shaft through said opening to afford ready access to said number printing means from outside said first support;

a rotatable drive member journalled in the second of said upright supports adjacent the inner end of said printer shaft;

telescopic coupling means between said drive member and the inner end of said printer shaft; and

means to rotate said drive member.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is link means extending from said transport bar in opposite directions and joining said transport bar with one of a pair of printer shafts, and said transport bar is revolvable when withdrawn to permit one or the other of said printer shafts to be aligned with said opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which there is pin-andsocket means between said link means and said first support operable to fixedly locate the axis of said printer shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which there is wedge means associated with said link means operable to initiate longitudinal movement of said printer shaft, and force-applying means is associated with said clamp means to activate said wedge means upon release of said clamp means. 

1. Printing apparatus, comprising: an opposed pair of upright supports; rotary inking and impression means mounted between said supports; a printer shaft located substantially inaccessibly adjacent said inking and impression means, said shaft carrying number printing means to travel in a circular path closely tangential with the inking and impression means; a first of said upright supports having an opening through which one end of said printer shaft extends, said opening being of a size to permit said shaft and the number printing means to be Transported outward therethrough; an elongated transport bar slidably mounted in said upright supports parallel to said printer shaft; link means adjacent said first upright support joining common ends of said transport bar and said printer shaft; said printer shaft being rotarily mounted at its outer end to said link means; said transport bar being of such length as to permit the withdrawal of said printer shaft through said opening to afford ready access to said number printing means from outside said first support; a rotatable drive member journalled in the second of said upright supports adjacent the inner end of said printer shaft; telescopic coupling means between said drive member and the inner end of said printer shaft; and means to rotate said drive member.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is link means extending from said transport bar in opposite directions and joining said transport bar with one of a pair of printer shafts, and said transport bar is revolvable when withdrawn to permit one or the other of said printer shafts to be aligned with said opening.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said telescopic coupling means comprises a tapered pin and lug on said rotatable drive member and the inner end of said shaft has a socket to receive said pin and is shaped to engage said lug.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which there is included clamp means mounted on said first support and operable to force said printer shaft toward said telescopic coupling means at its other end.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said clamp means is of the type employing a toggle action.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which there is pin-and-socket means between said link means and said first support operable to fixedly locate the axis of said printer shaft.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which there is wedge means associated with said link means operable to initiate longitudinal movement of said printer shaft, and force-applying means is associated with said clamp means to activate said wedge means upon release of said clamp means. 